Tooth clamping device for combs



Dec. 4, 195] WOOD TOOTH CLAMPiNG DEVICE FOR COMES Filed Jan. 20, 1950 o mw N X L F w a 4 m 1 u w v IIIW U V IIIJ I IV IIJ U V U .l U l VIL I m H Q h .3 6 O ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTH CLAMPING DEVICE FOR COMES Madelyn Wood, Leicester, Mass, Application January 20, 1950, Serial'No..1-39,684. Claims. (01. lea-22) The present invention relates to combs of the type that are adaptedto beworn in the hair, and

has. for its object to provide an. improved. device for clamping the teeth of. a comb in such.- manner that the comb will be. held firmly in position after comb teeth, in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the comb back, and thereby hold the comb against withdrawal from the hair.

The above, and other objects of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description, considered. in connection with .the'accompanying drawings, in which.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a comb provided with a clamping device embodying the present invention, with the clamping device open.

Fig. '2 is a transverse sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the comb shown in Fig. 1, with the clamping device closed.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view along the line 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the teeth 0 the comb showing the manner of opening the clamping device.

Fig. 6 shows the clamping device applied to a different type of comb.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is shown as being applied to a comb of the hollow tooth type, in which a series of teeth I extend from a back 2, with each tooth I having sides 3 that are curved away from each other. Combs of this particular construction are usually molded from plastic material, with the sides 3 of adjacent teeth I being slightly spaced apart so that the individual teeth are somewhat yieldable with respect to each other, as well as with respect to the back 2, which is relatively rigid.

The clamping device of the present invention comprises a pair of arms 4 that extend along the top of the comb in opposite directions from the two middle teeth I. The clamping arms 4 are of identical construction, and each arm 4 is mounted on a pivot 5 extending between spaced ears 6 formed on one side 3 of a middle tooth. The free end of each clamping arm 4, provides a projection I in the form of a hook having an inclined face 8 that is adapted to rest on the side 3 of the outer tooth I, when the clamping arm is open as shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to use a comb provided with a clamping device embodying my invention, the two clamping arms 4 are raised into the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 2, after which the 'teeth I of the comb are inserted into the hair.

When this occurs, the teeth I yield slightlyas the hair passes between them, and when the comb has been fully inserted, groups of hairs tend to collect in the open spaces between the base portions of the teeth where they are joined to the comb back 2. j

When the comb has been inserted in the hair, as described above, the clamping arms a are turned downwardly about their pivots 5, into the fullline position of Fig. 2, and pressure is then applied to the ends of the arms so as to force the surfaces 8 of the projections I against the sides 3 of the outer teeth I. This pressure, as

applied to the projections I, causes the sides of the outer teethto yield until the upper edge of each surface 8 reaches the lower edge of the comb side 3, whereupon the tooth will yield slightly to snap in between the arm and the projection I, as shown inFig. 4. Therefore, each arm 4 will be held in its clamping position, in which the series of teeth extending below an arm will be held in a compressed condition with their adjacent sides 3 in substantial engagement with each other, due to the compressive force exerted there on in a direction parallel to the rigid comb back.

As long as the arms 4 are locked in their clamping position by the projections I, the comb will remain firmly within the hair, due to the fact that any force tending to displace the comb cannot spread apart the teeth suificiently to permit the hair to slide between the teeth. When it is desired to remove the comb, the clamping arm 4 can be readily released by pressing on each end tooth until it is possible to snap the projection I past the side of the tooth. Each arm 4 may then be raised to permit the comb to be withdrawn from the hair. Fig. 5 shows the arms 4 being released.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention, there is provided an improved device for clamping the teeth of a comb, so that the teeth will be held in position to firmly grip 3 the hair. While the comb has been shown with two clamping members in Fig. 1, as applied to the sides of hollow teeth, obviously a short comb could be provided with a single clamping member 402, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the teeth Ia are solid from end to end, although thin enough to be compressed by the clamping member. In both forms of the invention, the combs can be readily placed in the hair, without interference by the clamping members, when the latter are turned back, as shown in Fig. 2. The clamping member 4a is similar in form to the clamping member 4 of Fig. 1, and is pivotally mounted between ears provided by an end tooth la. The opposite end of the member 4a provides a projection having an inclined face that is adapted to engage the other end tooth, so as to exert a compressive force on the teeth when the member is in clamping position.

I claim:

1. A clamping device for a comb having a rigid back and a series of resilient teeth, comprising a member pivotally connected to an end tooth of the series and provided with a projection having an inclined surface for engaging a tooth at the opposite end of the series, to urge said teeth towards each other, by a compressive force exerted in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the comb back.

2. A clamping device for a comb having a rigid back and a series of resilient teeth, comprising an arm extending transversely of said teeth, with one end of said arm being pivotally connected to an end tooth of the series, and with the other end of said arm providing a projection having an inclined surface for engaging the outside of the other end tooth of the series, upon turning of said arm from an open to a closed position, to exert a compressive force on said teeth in a direction substantially parallel to the comb back.

4 pressive force thereon, in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the comb back.

4. A clamping device for a comb having a rigid back and a series of resilient teeth each providing oppositely curved sides, normally spaced from each other, comprising an arm extending transversely of said teeth, with one end of said arm being pivotally connected to one side of a tooth at one end of said series, and with the other end of said arm providing a projection having an inclined surface for engaging one side of a tooth, at the opposite end of said series, upon turning of said arm from an open to a closed position, to exert a compressive force on said teeth in a direction substantially parallel to said back for forcing said teeth into engagement with each other.

5. Aclamping device for a comb having a rigid back and a series of resilient teeth providing oppositely curved sides normally spaced from each other, comprising a pair of arms extending transversely of said teeth, with one end of each arm being pivotally connected to a tooth at the approximate center of the series, and with the opposite end of each arm providing an inclined projection for engaging the side of an end tooth of the series, so that turning of said arms about their pivots to bring said projections into engagement with said end teeth serves to exert compressive forces on said teeth in opposite directions, substantially parallel to the back of the comb, for forcing said teeth together towards the center teeth on which said arms are pivoted.

MADELYN WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Dec. 24, 1928 

